David Lynch backtracks on Trump support, pens open letter to POTUS: 'You are causing suffering and division'

David Lynch is clarifying his praise of Donald Trump in an open letter to the president after a quote by the famed director caused a stir. It all started during a recent interview with the Guardian during which the Twin Peaks creator said he was undecided about POTUS.

“He could go down as one of the greatest presidents in history because he has disrupted the thing so much,” Lynch exclaimed. “No one is able to counter this guy in an intelligent way.” He said that although Trump may not be doing a good job, he’s opening the door for other outsiders. He added, “Our so-called leaders can’t take the country forward, can’t get anything done. Like children, they are. Trump has shown all this.”

Trump caught wind of the quotes — well, at least, the first sentence. The president tweeted out a Breitbart article titled “Director David Lynch: Trump ‘Could Go Down as One of the Greatest Presidents.”

POTUS loved the endorsement so much that he even praised Lynch from the stage at a rally on Monday in South Carolina, calling the veteran writer a “great filmmaker.” He added, “Of course, there goes his career in Hollywood.”

Backlash was swift, and now, the 72-year-old Mulholland Drive director is backpedaling on the remarks. In a statement posted on social media, Lynch says the quote “was taken a bit out of context and would need some explaining.”

For those who are interested, Lynch did not vote for Trump in the presidential election. He’s pretty sure, at least.

The Guardian noted that Lynch voted for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary and thinks — he’s not sure — he voted for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnsonin the presidential election. “I am not really a political person, but I really like the freedom to do what you want to do,” he said.

For someone who isn’t really a political person, Lynch certainly found himself in the thick of it this week.